Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Nigeria Has Plans To Launch CBDC in 2021 – Central Bank to 'Allow' Bitcoin

Nigeria Has Plans To Launch CBDC in 2021 – Central Bank to 'Allow' Bitcoin

According to Reuters, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) plans to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot as soon as the end of this year.

Last month, the Central Bank’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele, made a 180-turn on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and said that he will “allow” them. Previously, the CBN had sought to restrict the cryptocurrency sector by imposing regulatory sanctions on monetary businesses that serviced cryptocurrency exchanges.

In a turn of events, it now seems that after all Nigerian officials are embracing blockchain technology. All the same, in what could become a showdown between private and public cryptocurrencies in the future, arguments against central bank offerings remain as pertinent as ever.

The Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency Plan

Despite Nigeria’s purported aversion to fintech, it’s emerged that the central bank has been working on a digital currency for the past two years.

The CBN Director of Information Technology, Rakiya Mohammed, echoed what many other countries have mentioned in the past. That is, Nigeria will not be left behind in the technological revolution.

“We’re all aware that about 80% of central banks in the world exploring the possibility of issuing central bank digital currency, and Nigeria cannot be left behind.”

One of the reasons given for the CBN’s previous anti-Bitcoin position was a need to protect its citizens. In 2018, the CBN said that there is no legal redress if things go wrong in an unregulated market. There was also the usual spiel of links to illicit activity such as money laundering and terrorist financing.

Mohammed sells the idea of a central bank digital currency on it bringing financial inclusion and having the backing of the Nigerian government.

“If you have a central bank digital currency that is backed by the government, then people can make transactions online without fear of any default.”

What About Privacy?

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio made earlier remarks that governments will do all they can to maintain monopoly control of their money, even if that means outlawing the competition.

“every country treasures its monopoly on controlling the supply and demand. They don’t want other monies to be operating or competing, because things can get out of control.”

Anthony Pompliano didn’t agree with Dalio’s analysis saying that governments can’t ban Bitcoin. But he concedes that a scenario of coordinated global action could make life difficult for Bitcoin users.

And as cryptocurrencies continue to make their mark in the world of finance, regulators and policymakers may soon be forced to show their hand on the matter.

Unlike private cryptocurrencies, which operate on decentralized networks, central bank digital currencies would be issued and controlled by a central bank. This enables them, and by extension national governments, to track every transaction in their economies.

Liberal commentators view this situation as a significant blow to privacy. What’s more, as noted with several U.K banks refusing crypto transactions recently, central digital currencies have the potential to bring about a dystopian future in which transactions deemed “against the state” also get refused.

Source: Nigeria Has Plans To Launch CBDC in 2021 – Central Bank to 'Allow' Bitcoin – Fintechs.fi

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
×